Kim Jong-hun went immediately on the defensive when asked about his North Korean team on the eve of its opening World Cup match against five-time champion Brazil.
After replying to the opening question about injuries — “Nobody is injured. They’re all in top shape” — Kim bristled at a follow up from a South Korean reporter, speaking in Korean, who referred to the country as North Korea rather than the nation’s official title, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).
“There’s such no country called ‘North Korea,’” Kim said. “Next question.”
Though called “North Korea” abroad, the nation refers to itself as the “DPRK” in English or “Chosun” in Korean, the pre-colonial name of the Korean Peninsula.
FIFA refers to North Korea as DPR Korea, while it lists South Korea as Korea Republic.
The exchange brought to light the political and linguistic differences between the two Koreas.
South Koreans call their country “Hanguk,” and refer to North Korea as “Bukhan” — North Korea. North Koreans call the entire peninsula “Chosun,” and refer to South Korea as “Nam Chosun” — South Korea.
The coach also was asked whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-il had a say in the selection of players. A FIFA media official cut the reporter off, reminding journalists not to ask political questions.
The official also cut off a question about whether the North’s games would be aired live back home. The South Korean broadcaster holding the broadcast rights for the entire peninsula has said it would not feed the coverage live to the North, as it has in the past, due to political tensions.
Kim Jong-hun said he was “not involved” in the matter.
The coach has shown his impatience for the media in the past, notably last year in Seoul, when he abruptly stalked out of a post-match news conference after accusing South Korean officials of deliberately poisoning his players.
South Korea beat North Korea 1-0 during that World Cup qualifier held in Seoul.
On Monday, the FIFA media official, Gordon Watson, contradicted reports that the North Korea squad had been too secluded in South Africa, saying the team had fulfilled all its required media obligations and describing the team “very cooperative.”
This is the first time both Koreas have qualified for the same World Cup tournament. Meanwhile, North Korean fans in Pyongyang cheered for South Korea in its 2-0 win over Greece at the World Cup, a pro-North Korean newspaper in Japan reported yesterday.
“Citizens cheered South Korean team with no exception,” said the Choson Sinbo, considered a mouthpiece for Pyongyang’s government.
North Korean state TV aired coverage of the match on Monday night, two days after it took place in South Africa.
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